“I wonder how,” Daniil Medvedev predicts if Jannik Sinner will win the Italian Open on his return from suspension

Jannik Sinner's three-month suspension began on February 9 and is going to end on May 4, just three days before the Italian Open.

“I wonder how,” Daniil Medvedev predicts if Jannik Sinner will win the Italian Open on his return from suspension

Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner (via X)

The clay court season began a week ago and it offers huge honors to be won over the next few months. All eyes will be on the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, including the Monte Carlo and also the French Open. However, the Rome Masters which is slated to begin on May 7, is just three days after Jannik Sinner makes his official return to the court following his suspension.

Sinner reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to serve a three-month suspension for his doping case. The Italian ban began in February and is going to end on May 4. He was suspended for twice testing positive for clostebol, which he argued inadvertently entered his body after a mistake by his former physio.

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The World No.1 has already been added to the list of players to participate at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome. There have been arguments about whether Sinner can win the tournament despite his poor clay record. In fact, the 23-year-old last won a clay title in 2022 at the Croatia Open in Umag.

However, Daniil Medvedev fancies the World No.1 chances of winning the Rome title. He also revealed that Carlos Alcaraz would likely win the Madrid Open, while he genuinely hopes he could win the Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome Open.

Easy – I make the triple Masters and finish it off with Roland Garros, the cherry on the top. I don’t always like these predictions because I still want to win and I managed to win Rome one time but if I don’t win, I would say Monte Carlo, is Carlos playing? I did not see him here yet, where is he? But I would go with Carlos in Madrid, I think it suits his game well there, he can play well. Rome, I wonder how Jannik comes back. But let’s go for Zverev, he likes to win there, I feel like maybe once, two or three times.

Daniil Medvedev said via Monte Carlo Press

Medvedev is seeking to win his first title since 2023 at the Monte Carlo. The former World No.3 hasn’t been at his best on the court and is yet to get to an ATP final this season. He will hope things turn around in the clay season.

Daniil Medvedev says there’s no difference between hard and clay court

Daniil Medvedev will seek his first title since the Rome Open 2023, which was his last title. The Russian has been trying to bounce back and win titles but has always been stopped by younger and more athletic players. However, his main issue hasn’t been about the players, but about the surface. He revealed that there was no difference between the hard court and clay.

Daniil Medvedev 1
Daniil Medvedev (Image via/Meddy Family)

It’s curious, really. After Indian Wells and Miami, which are quite slow, although Miami is somewhat faster, I returned to play on clay… and, I swear to God, I don’t see any difference, except that you slip and the ball bounces higher. Sometimes there are bad bounces, the movements are different, but in terms of speed…I’d almost say that clay is faster than hard courts. They are definitely not much slower.

Daniil Medvedev said via Tennis TV

Medvedev has always been a critic of ATP tournaments having different kinds of surface textures and balls. He has argued that if surfaces are quite the same it will make it easier for players to adapt in tournaments.

Daniil Medvedev earns hard-fought first-round win at the Monte-Carlo Masters

Daniil Medvedev bounced back from his early exit in Miami with hard fought victory against Karen Khachanov at the Monte Carlo. The 29-year-old recovered early in the first set after squandering a 5-1 advantage to win the set. But he lost the second despite leading 4-1 and then allowing his fellow compatriot to win five consecutive match points.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (via X/The Tennis Letter)

However, Medvedev’s heavy baseline hitting and good drop shot helped in the deciding set to record a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win in two hours and 51 minutes. He extend his head-to-head record against Khachanov to 7-2. The Russian dropped out of the Top 10 after the Miami Open, he will hope to get back into the elite position quickly. He will face Alexandre Muller in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters.